Rakiura Track — Great Walk on Stewart Island/Rakiura
What makes the Rakiura Track unique among Great Walks?
It's the only Great Walk open year-round, on New Zealand's third-largest island (Stewart Island/Rakiura). The main draw is wild kiwi — night walks from Oban regularly encounter them on the beach. The 36km circuit takes 3 days, starting and ending at Oban. Remotest Great Walk by location but logistically straightforward once you're on the island.
The kiwi Great Walk
Every Great Walk in New Zealand offers something distinctive. The Rakiura Track on Rakiura/Stewart Island offers wild kiwi. Not in a reserve, not behind a fence — wild, uncaged kiwi on open beaches, regularly encountered by walkers doing night walks from Oban. For most visitors to New Zealand, this is the only realistic opportunity to see a kiwi in genuinely wild conditions.
The track itself — a 36-kilometre circuit through the native bush of Rakiura National Park — is the least visited of the Great Walks and arguably the most atmospheric. The beech forest is ancient and undisturbed. The shorelines are wild and rocky. The sounds at night, when the island’s bird population activates, are extraordinary.
Getting here requires a ferry from Bluff or a short flight, which filters the visitor numbers substantially. This remoteness is entirely the point.
Quick stats
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Total distance | 36 km (circuit) |
| Total climb | ~1180m |
| Duration | 3 days |
| Hut fee (Great Walk season) | NZD 102/night (USD 61 / EUR 56) |
| Campsite fee | NZD 32/night |
| Open | Year-round (only year-round Great Walk) |
| Great Walk season rates | October to April |
| Off-season | May-September, NZD 15/night backcountry fee |
Getting to Rakiura/Stewart Island
Ferry: Stewart Island Experience operates the ferry between Bluff (16 km south of Invercargill) and Oban — the only settlement on Stewart Island. Journey time is 1 hour. The crossing can be rough in the Foveaux Strait, particularly in winter. Bring anti-nausea medication if you’re susceptible. The Stewart Island: Ferry Service Between Bluff and Oban is bookable in advance — recommended in summer and long weekends. One-way fare approximately NZD 110-130 / USD 66-78 / EUR 61-72.
Flight: Stewart Island Flights operates a 20-minute service from Invercargill Airport to Ryan’s Creek airstrip (3 km from Oban). Typically NZD 160-200 / USD 96-120 / EUR 88-110 one way. The aerial view of the island and the Foveaux Strait is worth the premium if you’re prone to seasickness.
Invercargill: 3 hours south of Queenstown. Most visitors drive to Bluff and park there for the duration of their island stay.
The route (clockwise recommended)
Day 1 — Oban to Port William Hut (14 km, 4-5 hours)
The track leaves Oban via Lee Bay, follows the north shore of Paterson Inlet, and climbs through dense native bush before descending to Port William. The vegetation is entirely natural — no agricultural modification, minimal wind damage, mature forest throughout. Port William Hut sits at the edge of a sheltered bay.
Day 2 — Port William Hut to North Arm Hut (12.5 km, 4-5 hours)
The track crosses the island’s interior via a ridge walk with views of Paterson Inlet and the Tasman Sea. The ridge section is exposed — go-forward conditions depend on visibility. North Arm Hut is positioned at the head of North Arm, Paterson Inlet’s northern bay.
Day 3 — North Arm Hut to Oban (9.5 km, 3 hours)
A relatively short finish through coastal bush, arriving back at Oban via Fern Gully and the Freshwater River track. The short final day allows time for the key Stewart Island activity: a guided kiwi encounter that evening.
The kiwi experience: what to actually expect
Stewart Island has the highest density of wild kiwi of any location in New Zealand. The island’s approximately 20,000 kiwi (Tokoeka species) are habituated to human presence in the areas near Oban — meaning encounters on beach walks at night are genuinely frequent, not exceptional.
The most reliable kiwi encounters happen on guided night walks from Oban. The Stewart Island: Wild Kiwi Encounter takes small groups to beaches where kiwi forage after dark. The encounter rate is high — most nights, kiwi are seen within an hour. NZD 95-120 / USD 57-72 / EUR 52-66.
Self-guided night walking: Walking Ackers Point or the beach north of Oban after dark also produces frequent kiwi encounters for those comfortable with independent navigation in the dark. Bring a red-light headlamp (white light disturbs kiwi).
What you’ll see: Tokoeka are larger than North Island kiwi — closer to the size of a domestic cat. They forage on beaches, inserting their bills into sand in search of invertebrates. Encounters are typically close-range (5-15 metres). They are not shy.
Beyond the track: what to do on Rakiura
The Rakiura Track covers only a portion of what Stewart Island offers. Other experiences:
Ulva Island: A predator-free sanctuary 15 minutes by water taxi from Golden Bay. Densely populated with rare birds — South Island robins, Stewart Island robin, saddleback (tīeke), and kākāpō have been transferred here. The Stewart Island: Ulva Island Guided Wilderness Walk & Cruise combines water taxi and guided birding walk. NZD 85-110 / USD 51-66 / EUR 47-61.
Village and bays tour: The Stewart Island: Village and Bays Tour covers Oban and the surrounding bays by vehicle, providing context on the island’s history and ecology. NZD 65-85 / USD 39-51 / EUR 36-47.
Guided wilderness walk (Oneke area): The Stewart Island: Guided Wilderness Walk (Oneke / The Neck) accesses less-visited sections of Rakiura National Park with a local guide — a deeper experience than the standard track. NZD 125-160 / USD 75-96 / EUR 69-88.
What to pack
The island’s weather is notably unpredictable. The Foveaux Strait channel creates its own micro-climate, and rain can arrive with minimal warning.
Essential items specific to Rakiura:
- Full waterproofs (rain is frequent and can be persistent)
- Sandfly repellent — Stewart Island sandflies are substantial
- Red-light headlamp for kiwi night walks
- Gaiters (the bush sections of the track can be muddy)
- Warm layers year-round — even summer evenings are cool (15-18°C)
Cost breakdown (NZD / USD / EUR)
| Item | NZD | USD | EUR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ferry Bluff to Oban (one way) | 110-130 | 66-78 | 61-72 |
| Flight Invercargill to Stewart Island | 160-200 | 96-120 | 88-110 |
| Huts (2 nights, Great Walk season) | 204 | 122 | 112 |
| Guided kiwi night walk | 95-120 | 57-72 | 52-66 |
| Ulva Island guided walk | 85-110 | 51-66 | 47-61 |
| Invercargill accommodation (per night) | 80-180 | 48-108 | 44-99 |
Seasonal notes
The Rakiura Track is open year-round — the only Great Walk with this status. This is because the lower-elevation beech forest circuit doesn’t involve alpine passes that become dangerous in winter.
Winter (May-September): Cold and frequently wet. The island’s bird activity is excellent, the bush is quiet, and the huts are rarely occupied. Track surfaces can be muddy. The kiwi encounter is still very possible — kiwi operate year-round regardless of season. Hut fees drop to NZD 15/night (standard backcountry rate).
Summer (November-March): Peak season, warmest temperatures (average 16-18°C), longest days, highest visitor numbers (still modest by mainland standards). Great Walk season hut fees apply.
Frequently asked questions
How is Stewart Island different from the South Island mainland?
Rakiura has never been connected to the South Island by a land bridge long enough to allow stoats and weasels to establish — this has preserved its bird diversity. The island has no deer, no possums in the national park interior (pest control ongoing), and the birdsong is noticeably louder and more diverse than almost anywhere on the mainland.
Is the Rakiura Track suitable for beginners?
The circuit is the most manageable Great Walk for beginners: short daily distances (9-14 km), well-marked, and without dangerous alpine sections. The mud and tree root sections require attention, but no technical skill. First-time multi-day hikers can complete it comfortably.
Can I see kiwi on the track itself?
Possibly, but the track passes through forest where kiwi are less densely concentrated than near Oban’s beaches. The most reliable kiwi encounters are on organised night walks near Oban, not on the track itself. Don’t choose the Rakiura Track purely for kiwi — combine it with a guided night walk.
What food options are there on the island?
Oban has two cafes (Church Hill Restaurant for dinner, South Sea Hotel for pub meals), a small supermarket, and a takeaway. Buy food supplies in Invercargill before arriving — selection is limited and prices higher. The South Sea Hotel is the social hub of the island.
Related guides and reading
- Stewart Island/Rakiura destination guide
- Invercargill — gateway to Stewart Island
- Kepler Track guide — another accessible Great Walk
- Milford Track guide — most famous Fiordland Great Walk